Gas analysis apparatus



April 18, 1939. D. E. oLsHEvsKY 2,154,862

GAS ANALYSIS APPARATUS Filed Feb. l2, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l v wE521 April 18, 1.939. D. E. oLsHEvsKY v GAS ANALYSIS APFARATUS Filed Feb. l2, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I FROM /NTAKE MAN/FOLD INVENToR. QM/'ffy E. O/s/vevs/g/ lio Patented Apr. 18, 1939 or to Eclipse Orange, N. 1.-, a corporation of Aviation Corporation, -llalt New Jersey Application February 12, 1937, Serial No. 125,494

BClnims.

This invention relates to gas analysis apparatus and particularly to means for indicating the composition of the fuel mixture being supplied to one or more internal combustion engines, as for example, the ratio between the amount of air and the amount of fuel in the said mixture.

An object of the invention is to determine the air-fuel ratio by a means, operating upon the principle that to a deiinite air-fuel ratio corresponds a practically definite composition of the exhaust gases and, furthermore, that there'exists a definite relationship between the fuel air ratio of the intake and the vheat conductivity of the exhaust gases. In this respect the invention includes certain improvements upon and additions to the systemv disclosed in Patent No. gall granted to Clarke C.' Minter, December As pointed out in the Minter patent speciilcav tion a linear relation exists between the air-fuel ratio of a fuel mixture and the thermal conductivity of the resulting exhaust gases, which can be accordingly indicated through a device such as a galvanometer which will indicate the extent of a potential difference .resulting between certain conductors inv accordance with the variations in thermal conductivity of the gas which surrounds said conductors, it

being known that an electrically heated wire,

when supplied with electrical energy at a substantially constant rate, will acquire a temperature which will vary ininverse ratio tothe degree of change in conductivity of a gas sur' rounding such wire. Y

` Existing methods of determining the fuel-toair ratio on the above general principle comprise an apparatus having a plurality oi' wire conductors connected sowas toconstitute branches in a Wheatstone bridge, said conductors being heated by means of an electric current. At least one. and preferably two conductors composing opposite branches are confined within a standard gas of known composition or properties.

I found that it is not necessary to surround the resistances constituting one or two opposite legs of a Wheatstone bridge arrangement by a standard gas or to shield-them from the gas to vbe tested in order to obtain reliable gas analysis data, but that al1 vfour conductors may be immersed in the gas to be tested. Such an arrangement has the advantage of simplicity and is useful in case rof airplane motor gases where theI gas pressure changes considerably with altitude.

As a further improvement I may include means for keeping or bringing the gaseous mixture at or to a certain predetermined temperature', automatically maintained; or I may include, jointly with .or separately from the above mentioned temperature controlling means-means for con trolling and standardizing the pressure of the tions.l In achieving this entering gaseous mixture, to enhance precision of gas analysis.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for insuring a true indication of the actualair-fuel ratio as such indications may be ren- 6 dered invalid by reasons oi' changes in the intake manifold pressure of the engine or engines being supplied with the fuel. In this respect, I am able to eliminate errors in previous systems due to the failure of the indicating apparatus to compensate for that proportion of the change'in gall vanometer deflection which resulted merely from a variation in the manifold pressure and not from any actual change in fuelto-air proporpurpos I propose to employ a scale or scales having indications thereon within the range of expected air-fuel ratios, which scales may be adjusted *by displacing same bodily soaas toprovide for variation in initial setting and'readings in accordance with any variation occurring in manifold pressure, with the result that the'movement of the galvanometer needle 'will indicate the real fuel-to-bir ratio, taking into account the changes producing differences in the amount of carbon dioxide and hydrogen in the exhaus gases, but compensating for the proportion 'in the above differences due to manifold pressure variations. The indications f will be thus subject only to the negligibleerror which will be due to the fact that the relationship of manifold pressure variation to the fuel-to-air ratio is not precisely a straight line function for the entire range of variation although suiliciently near to a straight line for all. practical pur- DORS- 36- l The displacement of the scales may be performed either automatically or manually for which purposes the instrument may containl additional. scales with indicationsl within the expected manifold pressure range. In'the preferred embodiment as shown I lhave indicated means of incorporating this feature in a single instrument which may indicate the true fuel-to-airy ratio existing in two distinct aircraft engines. the arrangement being such that a single fixed scale having markings thereon to indicate possible range of variation in manifold pressure is correlated with two movable scales, one for each en gine, which may be caused to be either manually or automatically actuated bythe manifold-pres-- sure existing in the respective engines by means of conventional pressure responsive devices so as to shift said scales with respect tothe fixed, scales by a distance coresponding to the amount of the change in ratio which is due to variation in manifold pressure, the remaining portion of the -change in ratio to correspond to the extent of movement of the index element hereinabout described, and the true or practically true fuclw zoy to-air ratio to he indicated by the pointers against the movable scales.

These and other objects oi' the invention will become apparent from inspection of the followis to be expressly understood, however. that the drawings are` for the purpose of illustration only, l0 and are not designed as a definition of the limits oi' the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose. f

In the drawings: Fig.1isaticviewofasystemem ll bodying the invention;

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are detailed views of the .scales employed in the indicating mechanisms otthesystemshowninll'lg.1andshowingthe responsive to manioy conductors is placed in a separate compartment.

separate removable fixture, or 5 otherwise, to facilitate production and repair.

ba or some other source 'of direct ting) current supplies dectrical energy through a rheostat, 1,"for heating th conu and I. A voltmefer, l, whose needle actuates a marker cooperating' with 5 2| as indicated infng. 4, or witn'one 70 as the marker IIb of Fig. 3, and the movement galvanometer I of Fig. 1.'

In my preferred embodiment, I have shown an 75 electrically heated drilled block. il, containing 'plished by vario other tainer I-the temperature scales 2|, 22, in relation heating coils, i2. equipped with a conventional bimetal thermostatic switch, I3, as temperature standardizing means; and a simple, spring oppodrelease valve. I4,asapressuxestandardia ing means which may be used with or without 'i a blower. But I desire to have it understood.

' that the particular means shown are only'illustrative and that their purpose can be accommeans known to the art, such as, for

instance, forced cooling and ll supercharging.

Referring to the wire conductors, those marked #l and #I are preferably made of a wire pcsa low, zero or negative thermal coeilicient of resistivity such asmanganin, analloyotu nickel, manganese, and copper while #2 and #8 aremadeofawirehavingahightemperature coeiiicient of resistivity such as iron. lead or platinum.

In operation, all four conductors. I, 2,13 and l areheatedbyanelectriccunentsuppliedby source t. Agas oiknownorstandardcomposition is previously circulated for calibration purposes only, through the containerv I.' Rheostats (not shown) located without or within the gas container, may be used. i! desired, to adjust the' galvanometer reading (galvanometer l) to any chosen and suitably marked point oi' its scale. Since this adjustment is in the nature of a calibration, ordinarily it would not be required to change it during the life of the instrument.

Itwillbenowreadilyseenthat whenagas' containing alarger percentage of high heat conductivity, high thermal capacity constituants (such as hydrogen); or containing a smaller u percentageof low heat conductivity, low thermal A capacity constituents (such as carbon dioxide) or both,is caused to circulate through conn of all wires will decrease; but that only the conductors #2 and #3 will have their resistance appreciably changed.

The resultofthe abovewillbeachangeinthe current iiowing through the voltmeter I, and' consequently, a change in the position oi' its pointer. 'Ihis position may be suitably marked on the u scale.

vOntheother hanrLii'a'gascontlliningitsznall er percentage of high heat conductivity, high thermal capacity constituents and/or. containing a larger percentage of low heat conductivity, n low thermal capacity consti caused to circulate through container l, the temperature of all wires will increase, but only conductors changed.' The change thatoftheiirstcase.

Theresultrwillbeachangeintheciu'rmt iiowing through the voltmeter, the eifect being substantially the reverse of the first case. The position of the pointer may he again marked on .o the scale. a

The composition of the gas can be thus ascer- 'v tained from the reading of the voltmeter or any Il connecting therewith, for shifting the movable to the iixed scale Il, on which the manifold arcanes in Fig. 3 as spaced equally along each oi the two scales which indicate the fuel-to-air ratio may assume successively new positions corresponding to each successive change in manifold pressure; the amount of such correctional sluiting (resetting) that is necessary for any given change in manifold pressure being readily observable by reference to the markings on the juxtaposed iixed scale which is graduated in terms of the various manifold pressur that may be en,-

countered at the intakes of the particular engines. II desired, the gears l8b and I9 as shown separately on Fig. 5 are caused to turn by applying to one of them a Bourden tube or diaphragm 24 similar to that employed in the ordinary steam pressure gauge and having communication with the intake manifold of .the engine whereby, as already explained, changes in manifold pressure will automatically re-set the movable scales with relation to the fixed scale so that the marking indicated on the scales by the movement of the index element of Fig. 1 will be a true representation of the fuel-to-air ratio under the existing manifold pressure condition. In the following claims all references to conductors with a. low thermal coefiicient of resistivity are intended to include conductors with zero or negative coeicients as well as 4those having low positive coefficients. y What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for the analysis of a gaseous mixture, a chamber adapted for gas circulation therein, a plurality of conductors of high thermal coefficient of resistivity, a plurality of conductors with low thermal coeflicientof resistivity, all of said conductors being exposed to the gaseous mixture being analyzed, a source of electric current connected with said conductors whereby the conductors are heated at a predetermined rate, an electrically controlled measuring instrument responsive to the variation of the dierence in resistances of each set of conductors or a function thereof, and adjustable means for adjusting and maintaining the instrument in adjustment to produce true measurements notwithstanding variations in the condi- Y tions to which the gaseous mixture may be subjected.

2. In an apparatus forthe analysis of a gaseous mixture, a chamber adapted for gas circulation therein, a plurality of conductors of high thermal coefdcient of resistivity, a plurality of conductors with low thermal coefficient of resise tivity, all of said conductors being exposed to the gaseous mixture being analyzed, a source of electric current connected with said conductors whereby the conductors are heated at a predeter-V mined rate, an electrically controlleddmieasuring instrument responsive to the variation of the difference in resistances of each set of conductors or a function thereof, and adjustable manual means for adjusting and maintaining the instrument in adjustment to produce true measurements notwithstanding variations in the conditions to which the gaseous mixture may be subjected.

3. An apparatus vfor analysis of gaseous mixtures comprising a chamber adapted for gas circulation therein, a plurality of conductors with high thermal cient of resistivity, a plurality of conductors wit sistivity, both said sets of conductors being exposed tothe gaseous mixture being analyzed, a source of electric supply connected with said conductors whereby said conductors are heated low thermal coefllcient of rely keeping the temperature and pressure of the gas to oe analyzed at a predetermined constant value, an electrically controlled measuring instrument responsive to the variation of the difference in resistancesV between each set of conduetors, said instrument indicating the composition of the gaseous mixture or a function of said composition, and adjustable means for adjusting and maintaining the instrument in adjustment to produce true measurements notwith standing variations in the conditions to which the gaseous mixture may be subjected.

4. A uel-toair ratio indicating apparatus for use in a system adapted for gas circulation, comprising a plurality of conductors of high thermal coemcient of resistivity, a plurality of conductors with low thermal coefficient of resistivity, all of said conductors being exposed to the gaseous mixture being analyzed, a source of electric cur-.

rent connected with said conductors whereby the conductors are heated at a predetermined rate,

at a predetermined rate, means for automaticalan electrically controlled measurement instrul ment responsive to the variation of the difference in resistances of each set of conductors or a func-v tion thereof, said instrument indicating the fuel-to-air ratio or a. function thereof, and adjustable means for adjusting and maintaining the instrument in adjustmentto produce true measurements notwithstanding variations in the conditions to which the mixture of fuel and air may be subjected.

5. A fuel-to-air ratio indicating apparatus for use in a system adapted for gas circulation, comprislng a. plurality of conductors of high thermal coemcient of resistivity, a plurality of conductors with 'low thermal coelcient of resistivity, all of said conductors being exposed to the gaseous mixture being analyzed, a source of electric current connected with said conductors whereby the conductors are heated at a predetermined rate, an electrically controlled measurement instrument responsive to the variation of the dif ference in resistances of each set of conductors or a function thereof, lsaid instrument indicating the fuel-to-air ratio or a function thereof,

and adjustable manual means for adjusting and offfuel and air may be subjected.

6.I A fuel-to-air ratio indicating apparatus comprising a chamber adapted for gas circulation therein, a plurality of conductors with high thermal coeilicient of resistivity, a. plurality of conductors with low thermal coeiiicient. of resistivity, both said sets oi' conductors being exposed to the gaseous mixture being analyzed, a source .of electric supply connected with said conductors whereby said conductors are heated at a predetermined rate, means for automatically keeping the temperature. and pressure of the gas to be analyzed at a predetermined constant value, an electrically controlled measuring instrument responsive to the variation of the dii'- ference in resistances between each set of conduetors, saidinstrument indicating the fuel-'toair ratio orffunction thereof, and adjustable means for adjusting and maintaining the instrument'in adjustment to produce true measure- 

